Category: Sanctification

The question, “How are people saved from the consequences of their sins,” is answered in Galatians chapter 3.  God revealed to Abraham that justification is…

There is a spiritual danger in being linked to unbelievers, whether they be avowed atheists, practical infidels who claim conviction but live wickedly, or those who believe in God, but reject the authoritative nature of his word. Even as the inspired writer condemns being yoked to unbelievers, he offers a remedy–“Come out from among them and be separate” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Because God is holy, his call for man to be holy is proper. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Every aspect of our lives is impacted by God’s holiness. The perfect sinlessness of the Son of God should ever be before us. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’” (1 Peter 2:21-22). The holiness of God is awesome, and should inspire in us a quiet reverence, and a holy life.

God desires that we be holy and righteous in our life. When he called us, (remember, sanctify basically means to consecrate or set apart), he did not intend for us to live as does the world. The calling of God is of a higher order and requires moral, ethical and doctrinal purity.

Neo-Calvinists make an unwarranted distinction between the concepts of justification and sanctification

We are the “special people” of God, and we ought to be characterized by a zealousness for good works and righteous living. This is called sanctification … God setting us apart as holy, in order to serve him. We must recognize that this is God’s purpose for us as Christians, and that in all things, we must appear pure before Him.

I believe that an application of the fundamental principle of Sanctification would go a long way toward solving the moral and doctrinal problems that presently trouble the people of God. It is to a very great extent a failure to recognize and heed the call to holiness which is the cause for the present troubles.